Monjolophone

2010
220x120x60cm
PVC pipes and fittings, hoses, aluminum, water
SESI LAB Museum Brasília, Brazil
Private collection

A Monjolophone is a random and automatic water-powered music machine. It consists of a manual water pump, a water collector and reservoir, 12 taps, 12 monjolos and 12 aluminum plates tuned to the tempered scale. Initially, the water is in the collector. For the machine to work, water is pumped from the collector to the reservoir. The taps of the respective notes that you want to hear are opened. The troughs fill with water, hang by their weight, empty and return to their original position by striking the aluminum plates. You can control the time of the percussion of each of the notes by opening the taps. The more open the tap, the more water flows through the tap and thus the troughs fill faster, increasing the speed of the percussion. If you want a slower tempo song, just reduce the water flow from the taps by closing the valves.

He participated in the solo exhibitions Hybrid Inventions at Caixa Cultural São Paulo in 2021 and New Inventions at A Gentil Carioca gallery in 2010.